About the speakers
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Dr. Francesco Bonella (MD) is Associate Professor of Medicine and Head of the Division for Interstitial and Rare Lung Disease, Department of Pneumology at the Ruhrlandklinik University Hospital in Essen, Germany.
After receiving his MD and Board Certification at the University of Verona, Italy, he earned his international PhD in Interstitial Lung Diseases at the University of Essen under the guidance of Professor Ulrich Costabel.
Dr Bonella’s research interests include IPF, autoimmune ILDs, especially Systemic Sclerosis-ILD, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and sarcoidosis with a special focus on biomarkers, genetic predisposition and applications of bronchoalveolar lavage.
In recent years, he has acted as an investigator for major clinical trials in IPF, sarcoidosis and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.
He is reviewer for numerous scientific journals, Editorial Board member of the European Respiratory Journal and Associate Editor of Respirology.
He has authored many chapters in textbooks, original articles, case reports, editorials and reviews.
He is Chair of the ERS Rare DPLD Group (12.04) and co-founded EuPAPNet, the European Network for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.
He coordinated the ILD Core Network inside the European Reference Network ERN-LUNG and leaded the Scientific Advisory Board of European Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Related Disorders Federation (EUIPFF).
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Prof. Elena Bargagli (MD) is associate professor at Siena University, Chief of Regional Referral Centre for Rare Lung Diseases, ERN pattern for rare lung diseases.
She published several manuscripts about biomarkers in different diffuse lung diseases.
Her clinical interests includes: connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases (ILD), idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs), sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), Pulmonary Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis (PLCH) and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).
Her main research interest has focused on the study of proteomic analysis in the fluids of patients with ILD, chitinase potential role in sarcoidosis pathogenesis, the identification of prognostic biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
She obtained her medical degree and completed her training in respiratory medicine at the University of Siena, Italy, and subsequently specialized in ILD in the regional ILD specialist center in Siena.
She is (co)author of more than 100 manuscripts on ILD and sarcoidosis.
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Dr. Diego Castillo (MD) is a consultant in Respiratory Medicine graduated from medical school in 2001 (Universidad de Navarra, Spain).
He trained in respiratory medicine in Barcelona at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (2003-2007).
He completed his education in Rare Lung Diseases with a fellowship in Pulmonary Hypertension at Hospital Clínic (Barcelona) and Interstitial Lung Diseases at Royal Brompton Hospital (London).
In 2009 he joined the Respiratory Department at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau and since 2014 is the clinical leader of the ILD Unit.
Dr. Castillo is member of the respiratory research group “GREC” at Sant Pau Biomedicine Research Institute IIB-Sant Pau (Barcelona).
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Dr. Miriana d’Alessandro (PhD and Biologist), is currently PhD student in Genetics, Oncology and Clinical Medicine (GenOMeC) at the laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, University of Siena.
She received a Bachelor Degree in Laboratory Technician and Master of Science in Health Biology.
She published several manuscripts about biomarkers in different diffuse lung diseases including connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases (ILD), idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs), sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), Pulmonary Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis (PLCH) and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).
Her main research interest has focused on the study of cytofluorimetric analysis in the fluids of patients with ILD, bioindicators related to sarcoidosis pathogenesis, the identification of prognostic biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
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